Affordable North: Snowshoe Hike and Dinner in Traverse City

Burn Off Calories: Take a snowshoe hike around the Leelanau Conservncy’s 145-acre DeYoung Natural Area on Cedar Lake near Traverse City. The fresh snow will make for a stunning trek on the lovely Cedar Lake Trail. Find the trail head and parking off Cherry Bend Road. Prefer a guided hike? Click here for a complete schedule of docent-led conservancy hikes.

Pack the Calories Back On: A DeYoung Natural Area you aren’t far from the Tuscan Bistro at 12930 South West Bay Shore Drive in Traverse City. For cold-weather eating at its best, go for pasta suppers like the delicate, luxurious cavatelli with a fresh, creamy wild mushroom ragu. A roaring fire and baskets of executive chef Mickey Cannon’s chewy, full-flavor ciabatta with garlicky spinach pesto will get you in a warm mood straight away, and the housemade, hollowed ricotta “bullets” will make you glow about life in snow country. 231-922-7295.